"Let's go," Arik said. As they left, he informed the baron that he ought to inform the other cities of this potential fate.

Their journey took them from the forested foothills that they had been into a more open, grassy area that still managed to be uncomfortably hilly.

"You two, I'm going to have a look around. Don't do anything stupid and don't get seen." Arik then stole off into the fading daylight, looking for any sign of the Marn._________________Delicious tea, or deadly poison?

Raiab simply sat down and stared thinking again - what was he going to do assuming they caught up to the man? He was stronger than him, that was for sure. And what if he already had Trian's spellbook? That wasn't going to make things any easier..._________________A path taken is paths forsaken.
-Old Altion proverb

Ziva sat in the grass and sighed, she did not like this. Marn and did not usually get on with people that and the fact Arik's friend was a shaman, made her like him less. Everything she hated all wrapped up in one was supposed to save her. She did not like this at all, and she felt like she was being watched.

Arik managed to find many confusing tracks. Marn and human. His friends had been here, but...

Armored soldiers. That was based on the depth and shape of the bootprints. Yet it looked shuffling, uncoordinated, and random. Plague-ridden warriors? Things continually were getting worse. He continued on a little further._________________Delicious tea, or deadly poison?

Ziva sat, knees to chest, elbows on knees, head down. She was just waiting. She was tired and would take a nap if she could,but while she was tired, she didn't feel like she could sleep. Not that it mattered, she didn't much like Arik leaving her alone with the wizard, she didn't trust him. Not that she trusted Arik much at all,but she was more likely to trust him than Raiab.

The sword-wielding infected were upon the Wizard and the girl almost immediately. They were armored, foaming at the mouth, and clearly bloodthirsty, but retained the knowledge of using their weapons.

Yet another device of the plague enhancing itself.

Arik, nearly a league away now, soon noticed a few men in black robes walking down the road, leading a caravan of foodstuffs. He cursed to himself, he had to stop this._________________Delicious tea, or deadly poison?

Raiab cursed and took up the staff, casting his spells already. But they were paltry half-formed things, barely able to scratch the dead, let alone shred them to bits. It didn't seem likely they were going to survive this time around._________________A path taken is paths forsaken.
-Old Altion proverb

Ziva jumped up fumbling for her blade as the infected overtook them. She lunged, lashing out with her sword and wielding her skinning knife with the other hand. Even with her speed, she was overwhelmed. The girl stumbled back with a yelp and an infected's blade bit deep into her shoulder. Her knee gave and she tumbled back onto the ground, still swinging her sword with her uninjured left arm and lashing out with kicks as she struggled to find room to stand and keep the infected at bay.

The infected were engulfed in a wave of fire, and then swept away in a wind. A tall figure swathed in a wolfskin cloak looked at them, each eye as large as the palms of their hands, a huge nose and skin the color of mud. When he drew himself to his full height, he was easily more than twice Ziva's size, and much taller than any human man, as well as being wider. In one of his hands was clutched a large spiked club, the other was twisted in some arcane gesture. When he spoke, his voice was deeper and earthier than any human voice could be. He was Marn.

"You are not the human I felt here," he said simply. "Do you know of the one your people call Arik?"_________________Delicious tea, or deadly poison?

"You are afraid, human, I can smell it on you. Don't hide your emotions, it is unbecoming," he said to Raiab, "But it is good that Arik was with you. Now, tell me what is going on and I shall take you to my camp."

Arik had set some small traps to hinder the black robed men, but he was unsure that it would stop them. However, he had to find a way, or something, to stop their advance._________________Delicious tea, or deadly poison?

"We came with Arik looking for you," Raiab said. "This girl, she is sick with a mysterious plague that has come recently over the lands. He thought you could help heal her."_________________A path taken is paths forsaken.
-Old Altion proverb